Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-13
A DOG STORY.


had set in. The sound of firearms might
still be heard in the distance. The wood was
held by a battal on of French marines, who
had received orders TO cover the retreat.
The whole village was on fire, from one end
to the other. The heavy tread Of the PriS-
sian columns, as they flied through the main
street, resounded with dull mohotony on the
lev snow. The mounted allicers were muiiled
in long overcoats, and wlrd the Steeds snnrted
the breath of the horses noStrils seemed 10
freeze in the all The quiet, gloomy, Starl't
sky, toward which fog cloud OF smoke
scared upward in the distance, appeared to
rest on a broad basement Of riven flame
Outside the village extended the large,
open courtyard Of farm which, although it
stood alone, has also become prey tc the
devouring element The contiagration had
gained the roof, cock loft and cattle houses,
and formed a steadily advancing sheet of
fire A thousand lamheut tongues of flame
shot beyond the charred walls toward the
orchard fruit trees aud the tall poplars along
the road A corpse was stretched full length
in front of the courtyard door; but, beyond
tie Kissing and cracking Of the flames. every
thing around was silent and deserted
Suddenly the mad howl of powerful
watch dog broke the stiffness of the gloom.
In vain did the poor beast wrench on the
chain tina. thrcttied him and howl at his APP
preaching fate The Prussian soltery, who
had left house and nome, wife and children,
to fight their hereditary foe, were deaf even
10 the cries of mercy which fell from the lips
of a human being. How, then could such
men be expected to stop in their victorious
career to unbind the leash of so insignificant
an object as wretched dog!
The battalion had already marched by, and
only few strauggers remained behind. One
of them stopped, shouldered his rifle strap,
and peered into the yard He saw the dog
and pitied the poor brute. The man was Il
Pole and hal some heart He remembered
the dear old mastif which had left home to
follow him in the pressed campaign and had
lied in a ditch by the roadside He cautiously
entered the blazing courtyard and approached
the kennel The watch dog came out and
took conf lence at the light blue eyes and
open countenance of the stalwart delverer
The Pole uustrapped the leather collar, and
the poor animal was free!
1t was large white dog, with woolly coat,
long tail and pointed ears. 1t started to fol
man at the farmyard door it drew near
slowly. timidly scented the hfeless body, and
began to whine The faithful creature had
recognized its master, and began licking his
brown and callous hand Nanly the soldier
beckoned, called and whistled he had to drag
the animal away from the corpse, after pass
ing round its neck a rope which had served
the purpose of a girdle to the dogs dead
master
One day, fearful battle was fought When
the struggle was over and the soldiers were
gathered round their camp kettles, the dog
crouct.ed at his friends feet and looked up at
him The Pole offered the now well nigh
famiSlIed animal the rind of piece of cheese
which had long been slowed away in the
depths of his pocket. The dog for q long time
scented the food as if TO make sure. that it
belonged to his master and nobody else. The
poor creature this time accepted the proffered
pittance; it began to eat slowly, and with a
sort of dignity, like one who does thing
merely to oblige another From that day the
Pole got the dogs food from the country
stores which he came across in the long
marches over French soil
One evening, the sergeant of his squad said
TO the Iandwehrman:
"What are you going to do with thai
beas.!7
Take it home with me-" replied the Pole
Il need wa'ch hoe anu cannot nope 10 hlee'
with better one"
At last the arlillSllce was cohclhaeh ana
peare proclaimed The landwehrmen looked
at each other with joyful eyes and clasped
their hands in silent token OF better days Al
the first town they reached, the whole bat
talon was bundled INTO a tram which
steamed off in the direction OF Fatherland
They had no sooner passed the frontier thar
the soldiers were received at every station
with endless cheering, ant music and flowers
Toe Pole who had been called out to fight
he knew not why, was specially at loss Il
explain why, having fought, he was brought
home amid such outburstS OF popular favor
He looked as silly as the dog at his feet, per
Eaps little more 50, for the dog seemed u
have an inkling that he was surrounded by
enemies, while the "Polak' had grown to bt
Indifferent
Once only the dog rose from the dark cor
ner in which he crouched suiklly. 1t was al
station in the north Of Germany. A con
voy of French prisoners arrived just as the
iandwehrmen's train entered the place
The brave hound rushed to the window and
barked and howled at the cheers and songs
which rose from the dense throng of mel
with blue coats and red trousers. as they filed
off into captivity, closely guarded by the
Prussian sentinels.
At Posen the landwehrmen were disbanded
and sent home TO their villages. Nolnlzki set
out with his bag at his side, stick in his
hand and followed by his dog. lie left the
high road ana TOOK a snort cut across the
country foi '"o nays ue ''d' eiet 'ni Jug
hh uhuu'aSe i,r y pie'''
leans mn I slo Us nc
riiy sooNe' anu 'ne pio",''l,' ''o'e MS iui
70" through .,it nai ''e'l''i s'epe vi ever
e,ue spi ~ a.. -
sei ms ""''A "''' III 'n0
', msf ,.. ,...-,.,
nv no" - ~
Re ra,;,-o ,,,ace Already tbose he mat h,
.i,o s,.oatod hin, ;,I, tho s,,I
-. d. Cb-iyt bo ,,raizoIt, A. 800, a.
''on 80 ~. -. -, i..
Ill to knaIt -, :, ~ - - !,
,,-,r, bear,fal, nravar Ia ,h.nLed hi,
,,,ior not for any virto-v On. an,- glory bn,
~. allowing him to get back through all hi.
rails wi.hont loss Of baaItb mr. limbs
He hurried forward and hogan To sing fo,
The first time since he had left his wife an,
.I,i,Jran
Not far off cou,d be seen the little cottso,
,,.it,, lis roof of tbatrbed straw blackened i,
,he smoke of the chimney and its granarv
,..haro;,, ,ho' s,orl nostloi
So fr,n, Tho otber s;d. of o hsdoe h,
49, his t,o,,,,,, ,,,;to 80 ,,r,